What Should be in the Statement of Faith of a Bible-Based Church?

7 minutes of reading

QUESTION:

WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE STATEMENT OF FAITH OF A CHURCH?

ANSWER:

A church’s statement of faith reveals whether it teaches the essential truths about God and salvation—truths that every believer must know—while also showing where it stands on secondary matters like worship style and church leadership.

Introduction

You just got saved and are now ready to take part in a bigger body that we call the Church. Praise God for this new chapter in your life! As you begin your walk with Christ, a natural and important question arises:
“Out of the many churches out there, which one should I join?”

With countless denominations and fellowships available, it can be overwhelming to choose a church home. One of the most crucial steps in making this decision is to examine a church’s Statement of Faith. Why? Because this statement reveals what the church believes, teaches, and stands for, particularly when it comes to the core truths of Christianity.

Before committing to a local fellowship, it is vital to ensure that their teachings align with the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. These doctrines are not optional—they are foundational. They involve the truth about who God is, how a person is saved, and what the Bible teaches about eternal life.

Let us clarify this:

  • Essential (Major) Doctrines are beliefs that have a direct impact on salvation and a proper understanding of the nature and character of God. These include truths like the existence of one true God, the Trinity, the deity of Jesus Christ, salvation by grace through faith, the authority of Scripture, and the promise of Christ’s return. Without these, the Gospel message is compromised.

  • Non-Essential (Minor) Doctrines, on the other hand, are important but not central to salvation. These cover matters like the mode of baptism, church governance, use of spiritual gifts, or views on end-times events. Christians may disagree on these issues while still being united in Christ.

This article will walk you through both the essential doctrines and the minor doctrines commonly found in evangelical churches. Understanding these truths will equip you to make a wise, Spirit-led decision about where to grow, serve, and worship as a part of God’s family.

STATEMENT OF FAITH OF A BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCH

 

I. Essential (Major) Doctrines

These are foundational truths held in common by most evangelical churches:

 

1. One God

There is one true and living God, the Creator of heaven and earth, holy, sovereign, and eternal—perfect in all His ways.
(Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 45:5-6, 1 Timothy 2:5)

 

2. The Trinity

God eternally exists in three co-equal and co-eternal Persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. These three are one in essence and nature, yet distinct in role and personhood.
(Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, John 14:16-17)

 

3. The Bible

The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God, and is the final rule for all faith and life.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21)

 

4. Jesus Christ

Jesus is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice, rose bodily from the dead, ascended to heaven, and will return in glory.
(John 1:1-14, Colossians 2:9, Philippians 2:6-11, Romans 5:8)

 

5. The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, regenerates those who believe, and indwells, empowers, and guides every believer into truth and godliness.
(John 16:8-13, Romans 8:9-11, Galatians 5:22-23)

 

6. Humanity and Sin

All humans are created in God’s image, but through Adam’s fall, all have sinned and are separated from God. Sin brings death and condemnation, and humanity is in need of redemption.
(Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:1-3)

 

7. Salvation by Grace through Faith

Salvation is a free gift from God. It is received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone—not by human effort or good works.
(Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, John 3:16)

 

8. The Church

The Church is the Body of Christ, composed of all true believers. Local churches exist to worship God, teach His Word, observe the ordinances, and proclaim the Gospel to the world.
(Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Matthew 28:19-20)

 

9. The Ordinances

Jesus instituted two ordinances to be observed by the Church:

  • Baptism (typically by immersion as a public testimony of faith)

  • The Lord’s Supper (as a remembrance of Christ’s death and return)
    (Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

 

10. The Second Coming and Eternal Judgment

Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly. There will be a bodily resurrection of the saved and the lost—eternal life for the redeemed, and eternal judgment for the unrepentant.
(Acts 1:11, John 5:28-29, Revelation 20:11-15)

II. Secondary (Minor) Doctrines

These are not essential for salvation and may vary among evangelical churches:

 

1. Mode and Timing of Baptism

  • Most practice believer’s baptism by immersion.

  • Some differ on infant baptism or baptismal methods.

 

2. Spiritual Gifts

  • Some churches teach that all spiritual gifts continue today (continuationism).

  • Others believe certain gifts, like tongues and prophecy, have ceased (cessationism).
    (1 Corinthians 12–14)

 
3. Eschatology (End Times)

Evangelicals agree on Christ’s return but differ on:

  • The timing of the rapture

  • The nature of the millennium (pre-, post-, or amillennialism)

  • The role of Israel in prophecy

 
4. Church Government

Churches may be governed by:

  • Elders (presbyterian or elder-led)

  • Congregation (congregational polity)

  • Bishops (episcopal structure)

 
5. Role of Women in Ministry

Views differ regarding whether women may serve as pastors or elders.
Some churches permit broader leadership roles; others maintain male-only leadership based on biblical interpretation.

 

6. Creation Views

Churches hold varying views on how God created the world:

  • Young Earth Creation

  • Old Earth Creation

  • Theistic Evolution
    All affirm that God is the Creator.

III. Warning: Not All Statements of Faith Lead to the Truth

As you search for a church to join, remember this: not all who claim the name of Christ actually preach the true Gospel. While many denominations differ only in style or secondary matters, there are groups that create and implement essential doctrines of their own—doctrines that distort the Gospel and divert people from the truth of salvation.

Here are some examples to be aware of:

  • Canonizing people to whom prayers are offered, placing them in the role of mediators instead of Christ.

  • Teaching that salvation is dependent on church membership, rituals, or human effort.

  • Promoting a different Jesus, such as denying His divinity, reducing Him to a created being, or redefining His role in salvation.

  • Preaching a different gospel, one that adds requirements to faith or redefines grace.

  • Using altered or exclusive translations of the Bible, or claiming new revelations that contradict Scripture.

  • Elevating human leaders as exclusive prophets, whose words override the authority of the Bible.

  • Teaching the divinization of man, or belief in multiple deities beyond the One True God of Scripture.

These may appear Christian on the surface—but underneath lies a different gospel.

The apostle Paul gave stern warnings about this spiritual danger:

“For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!”
—2 Corinthians 11:4

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”
—Galatians 1:8

Religious groups or denominations cannot save you—but joining a counterfeit one can lead your soul to hell if it causes you to believe in a false Christ or a corrupted gospel.

Final Thought

At the end of the day, you are the one who must choose which church to join. Let the Statement of Faith serve as your guide, but do not let it dictate your every move. The Holy Spirit lives in you, and He is more than able to lead you into all truth and show you the path that God has prepared for you.

Denominations may differ in tradition and expression, but Jesus Christ remains the foundation of the true Church. It’s not the name of your denomination that saves you—religious groups or church affiliations CANNOT save you. Only a personal, saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ can.

But as you seek a church family, be discerning. Some fellowships may affirm the essentials in name, but preach another Jesus or another gospel in practice. Examine everything in the light of Scripture. Test the teachings. Know the difference between man-made religion and Spirit-led truth.

The Church is not a building, a brand, or a tradition. It is the Body of Christ, made up of those who have been born again by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

And as you take your place in that Body, let this be your guide:

“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

Choose a church that exalts Jesus, teaches the whole counsel of God, and walks in love and truth. For in the end, it’s not about being part of a crowd—it’s about being part of Christ.

Related Posts

Scroll to Top